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Travel Advisory July 26, 2023

Kosovo - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise increased caution due to  terrorism .   Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider Travel To:

• North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan due to  the potential for civil unrest due to ethnic tensions.

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the Balkans region, including Kosovo. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Read the  country information page for additional information on travel to Kosovo.

If you decide to travel to Kosovo:

• Avoid demonstrations.
• Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Kosovo.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Tensions within and between communities in the north of Kosovo remain a source of potential unrest in North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan.

Although recent unrest has been politically-related and does not involve tourists or members of the international community, bystanders can be affected.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the north of Kosovo as U.S. government employee travel to North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan is restricted.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Must be valid at time of entry

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Not required for visits less than 90 days in a six-month period

10,000 euros or more in cash must be declared

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy pristina.

U.S. Embassy Pristina Rr. “4 Korriku” Nr. 25 10000 Pristina, Kosovo Telephone: +(383) (38) 5959-3000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +(383) (38) 5959-3000 Email:   [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter Kosovo and may be asked to provide documentation stating the purpose of their visit.

§  No visa is required for tourist trips of up to 90 days within six months.

§  For work, study, or visits longer than 90 days within six months, you must apply for a temporary residence permit once in Kosovo at Pristina’s Division for Foreigners, Visa and Residence Permit. Please contact this office for additional information prior to arrival in Kosovo.

§  To apply for a temporary residence permit , you will need to provide proof of local health insurance and an official police background check report. See our Criminal Records checks page on our website. The U.S. Embassy cannot assist you in obtaining background checks, certificates of conduct, or fingerprints.

The U.S. Embassy cannot intervene on your behalf, obtain a background check report for you at the airport when applying for a visa, or assist if you are denied entry into Kosovo.

Kosovo law requires U.S. citizens to present photo identification (original ID, driver’s license or a passport) to prove identity when asked by an authorized official.

Additional Entry/Exit Requirements for Minors: Kosovo law requires unaccompanied children under 14, regardless of nationality, to have written, notarized permission from either both parents or legal guardians to depart Kosovo. Please review our website for more information on children’s issues.

Special note on travel to Serbia: If you wish to travel to Serbia after visiting Kosovo, you must have initially entered Kosovo through Serbia and have a valid, recent Serbian entry stamp . U.S. citizens entering Kosovo from a country other than Serbia, including from any other country via Pristina’s airport, will be barred from entering Serbia by Serbian border officials.

Visit the Embassy of Kosovo website for the most current visa information.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Kosovo.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our websites.

Safety and Security

For most visitors, Kosovo remains a safe country. Petty street crime is the most common safety concern for U.S. citizens. The Kosovo Police, assisted by the EU Rule of Law mission (EULEX) and the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), are responsible for safety and security in Kosovo. The U.S. Embassy has no law enforcement authority.

Credible information indicates terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Europe. European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations.  Exercise caution at festivals and other public events. If you are in a crowd and the security situation begins to deteriorate, leave the area immediately. Remain aware of your surroundings and have a plan for escape should an emergency arise. Monitor instructions from the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

• Travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan is restricted due to incidents of violence and high tensions in these areas. The U.S. government strongly advises private U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to these regions as well. The U.S. Embassy has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens who encounter difficulties in these areas.
• Organized crime is present in Kosovo, occasionally resulting in violent confrontations between rival organizations. Most incidents are politically motivated and are not directed at tourists or foreigners.
• Sporting events may also trigger violence or protests.
• Celebratory gunfire and the use of low-quality fireworks are common during holidays and celebrations. Serious injuries and death have occurred as a result of stray bullets and accidents evolving fireworks. It is strongly advised to remain indoors when viewing fireworks displays.

U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations , events involving political/ethnic/religious/social causes, or any other large groups. Demonstrations occur frequently, particularly in Pristina, often with little or no notice. Demonstrations can cause serious traffic disruptions or violent incidents. For more information, visit U.S. Embassy Kosovo’s alert and messages page .

Crime : Although violent crime against U.S. citizens is rare, remain cognizant of your profile in public and avoid drawing attention to yourself as a U.S. citizen. Theft and other petty street crimes do occur, particularly in areas where tourists and foreigners congregate.

• Do not leave anything of value in plain view in unattended vehicles. Park your vehicles in a secure, off-street location.
• Street crime and home invasion occur with some frequency. Criminals target those appearing vulnerable and/or wealthy and use periods of reduced police availability (e.g., holidays, unrest, and major events such as elections) to commit crimes of opportunity. Securely lock the windows and doors of your residence when not home and set your home alarm, if you have one.
• Robberies , thefts , and burglaries often increase dramatically around the year-end holidays as criminals tend to target shoppers carrying cash and gifts and storing these items in their vehicles. If possible, avoid carrying and/or displaying large amounts of cash or packages.
• To avoid the risk of sexual assault , anyone traveling alone in taxis or mini-buses should exercise caution, especially after dark. Avoid being alone in isolated areas with unfamiliar people. Do not leave drinks unattended in bars and nightclubs.

See the  Department of State  and the  FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime:

Victims of crime and sexual assault should go to a safe location, call the local police to report the incident, and then contact the U.S. Embassy.

Report crimes to the local police by dialing 192 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +383 (38) 5959-3000 (available 24/7 for emergencies). Police responsiveness to criminal reports varies greatly. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

Kosovo’s Victims’ Advocacy and Assistance Office (VAO) has a 24-hour, toll-free, operational help line available at 0800 11 112. The VAO provides information and guidance, can help refer cases to appropriate institutions, and allows the general public/victims to report crimes. The VAO may also assist with medical exams, obtaining protection orders, or case status updates.

Additional in-depth information regarding safety and security in Kosovo can be found at: Kosovo 2019 Crime and Safety Report - OSAC .

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas . See Embassy Pristina’s Victims of Crime page .

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide information on  victim compensation programs in the U.S. and in Kosovo
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• Replace a stolen or lost U.S. passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the embassy for assistance.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur.  Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field.  In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities.  First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment.  U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.  See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our  webpage  for further information.

The Kosovo criminal justice system does not function at a level consistent with Western standards. Lengthy detentions are common before and during judicial proceedings. The U.S. Embassy cannot expedite legal/court proceedings, secure releases, nor facilitate preferential conditions for detained U.S. citizens.

Special Circumstances:

• Power outages, which can occur throughout Kosovo, may also disrupt other public utilities, including water service, and interfere with traffic lights, normal business activity, and public services.
• Kosovo is a cash economy based on the euro, although credit card use is increasingly prevalent. ATMs are readily available throughout Kosovo, and users should take normal precautions when using ATMs to safeguard their PIN.
• Be aware when using public Internet cafes and open WiFi connections, as your sensitive personal information, account passwords, etc. can be stolen.
• Travelers must complete a customs declaration at their port of entry when bringing in or taking out cash in amount of 10,000 euros or more. Failure to comply may result in the confiscation of a percentage of the funds.

Potential for Natural Disasters: Kosovo is located in a seismically active area of the world making it susceptible to earthquakes. The best way to cope with an earthquake is to make preparations in advance. For information on what to do before and during a natural disaster, see:

• U.S. Embassy Kosovo website .
• U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides general information about natural disaster preparedness.
• U.S. Geological Survey provides updates on recent seismic and volcanic activity. 

Explosive devices: While de-mining programs have proven effective, unexploded ordnance and mines remain in some areas. Seek additional information for marked and unmarked contaminated areas with leftover mines and unexploded ordnances. Further, improvised explosive devices (IED) and Molotov cocktails have been used in Kosovo. Any suspicious item should be reported to the local authorities.

Climbing and Hiking: For outdoor activities, you should seek a local guide’s informed advice, maintain communication with your family and friends, and provide route and contact details to someone not travelling with you.

• The weather in Kosovo can change quickly, even in the summer months.
• Temperatures can drop overnight and snow can fall unexpectedly.
• If in trouble, call the local emergency number at 112. Local authorities will help to the best of their ability.

Athletes: We have received reports that some Kosovo sports clubs have allegedly not honored contracts for foreigners. Before signing a contract or relocating, ensure you are able to financially support your trip and return home to the United States, should problems arise.

Property and Other Private or Commercial Disputes: The Government of the United States does not have jurisdiction over property or private disputes in Kosovo.

• The U.S. Embassy cannot protect personal property and cannot take sides in legal disputes.
• Information about the legal system in Kosovo is available on the Government of Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) website.

Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country report 
• Human Rights Report – see country report
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Kosovo. LGBTI individuals are protected by anti-discrimination laws, and there are no legal impediments to organizing LGBTI events. In practice, however, LGBTI persons face discrimination.

• LGBTI travelers should exercise caution when visiting Kosovo, especially with regard to expressing affection in public.
• Despite existing legal protections, LGBTI travelers may find that individual police officers are unfamiliar, or have limited experience, with the needs or concerns of the LGTBI community.

See our  LGBTI Travel Information  page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance . Individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. The Kosovo Constitution and legislation prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, and in the provision of other state services.

• Only limited measures exist to support disabled persons.
• Law mandates access for disabled persons to official buildings; however, it is not enforced, and such access is rarely available.
• Most public buildings and many residential or commercial facilities remain inaccessible.
• Public transportation for persons with disabilities is very limited.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers .

Medical facilities in Kosovo consist of the government-sponsored University Clinical Center and private medical clinics. Medical facilities outside Pristina have limited capabilities . Quality controls are lacking, services are very basic, hygiene may be insufficient, and medical care is below U.S. or Western European standards.

• United States or Western European-licensed physicians and specialists are not available in Kosovo. If you encounter corruption while obtaining medical care, please report it to the local authorities.
• Kosovo has few ambulances. Ambulances will take you to the public hospital. Injured or seriously ill U.S. citizens may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Kosovo to ensure the medication is legal in Kosovo. Always, carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

• Some prescription medication may not be available locally.
• Tap water is not potable or safe to drink. Take care that food is cooked thoroughly to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.
• Air pollution is a severe problem in the greater Pristina area, particularly during the winter. Travelers with upper respiratory ailments or asthma-like symptoms should consult their doctor prior to travel.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The following CDC-recommended vaccines for children are not available in Kosovo : Hib, Rotavirus, Inactivated Polio, Pneumococcal, and Varicella.

If you are planning on traveling from Kosovo to  Mecca  please be aware of the  MERS Corona Virus Advisory . For more information please see our  Hajj Fact Sheet and the Saudi Ministry of Health website .

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety: Road conditions in Kosovo are hazardous. Although some modern highways exist, most roads remain narrow and crowded and are used by a variety of vehicles, from NATO-KFOR armored personnel carriers to horse-drawn carts. Mountain roads can be narrow and poorly marked, lack guardrails, and quickly become dangerous in inclement weather. Dense fog can obscure visibility while driving.

• Driving in Kosovo is difficult for many reasons: unfamiliar traffic patterns, largely unobserved traffic laws (e.g., illegal left turns from the far right lane, passing on blind curves, driving into oncoming lanes of traffic without yielding), oddly-shaped road signs in a foreign language, stray livestock, horse-drawn carts, infrastructure problems and the construction projects implemented to fix them.
• Roads frequently flood and are impassible during rainy months. Mud and road slides occasionally shut down main throughways.
• Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution, whether on the sidewalk or crossing the street, even when using crosswalks. Drivers generally do not slow down or stop for pedestrians. For situational awareness, pedestrians are strongly advised not to use headphones.
• Local residents often walk in the roadway and wear dark clothing, making it difficult to see them at night. Additionally, stray dogs often lay or run in the roadway and are often difficult to see when driving.
• The U.S. Embassy recommends that you travel during daylight hours. Leave a travel itinerary and contact telephone numbers with someone before you go.

Traffic Laws: Drivers with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.05 percent are considered intoxicated and will be arrested and prosecuted.

• The use of seat belts and headlights is mandatory at all times.
• It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless it is hands-free.
• It is the law that all accidents, including minor fender-benders, be reported to police. If you are involved in any type of accident, it is recommended that you not move your vehicle until police arrive to take a full report.
• When police impose a fine or penalty, they may legally confiscate your driver’s license and vehicle documents until the penalty is paid. The U.S. Embassy is not able to retrieve these documents.
• Review Kosovo traffic safety laws for complete information on driver’s licenses and imported or foreign-tagged vehicle registration requirements.
• Drivers of motor vehicles registered outside of Kosovo may need to purchase liability insurance at the border. Kosovo is not a member of the European motor vehicle third party liability (“green card”) system.

Public Transportation: Taxis are generally an inexpensive, safe, and reliable means of transportation. It is recommended to use established taxi companies instead of a personally-owned vehicle converted to a taxi. Make sure the taxi has a meter and that the driver activates it upon departure.

• Rail transportation is very limited and unreliable, and safety equipment is often lacking or outdated.
• There has been some improvement with new buses introduced in Pristina, but generally buses can often become overcrowded 

See our  Road Safety  page for more information.

Aviation Safety and Oversight: Pristina has a modern airport terminal and control tower. International airlines fly to Pristina on a regular basis. Flights can experience significant delays and/or cancellations due to weather conditions, especially during the winter. When heavy fog or smog is present, flights may be diverted to Skopje, North Macedonia or Tirana, Albania. Airlines typically bus passengers to the Pristina airport, which takes approximately 2 hours.

As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Kosovo, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the Government of Kosovo’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Kosovo is not a member of ICAO.  Flights are frequently delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility as a result of heavy fog. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

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Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

Zvečan, Zupin Potok and Leposavic, and the northern part of the city of Mitrovica

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the municipalities of Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, and the northern part of the city of Mitrovica.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel .

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How to travel to Kosovo in 2024

By Joan Torres 7 Comments Last updated on April 12, 2024

This travel guide to Kosovo contains everything you need to know to visit one of the youngest countries in the world , including safety, moving around, top experiences, best time to visit, historical context, and more.

Only independent since 2008, Kosovo is a partially recognized country that split from Serbia, putting an end to many years of an unfortunate conflict.

This landlocked country was part of our 2-month road trip across the Balkans, and it was one of our favorite parts.

Along with Transnistria , and perhaps Belarus , Kosovo might be the least visited country in Europe, home to a pretty authentic and untouched culture that chaotically combines their love for rakija (local liquor) with the large presence of mosques, a gorgeous Ottoman architecture and a strong coffee culture, not forgetting occasional Serbian villages filled with Orthodox churches.

Intrepid travelers wishing to get off the beaten track – outside of Pristina and Prizren – will be able to have local experiences rarely seen in Europe, like when we went to the remote, barely visited southern corner that belongs to the Dragash region, composed of green, rolling hills dotted with tiny villages, where we were blessed with unprecedented European hospitality, like if we were traveling in the Middle East .

We enjoyed this tiny country like nowhere else in the continent, and this guide will tell you everything about traveling to Kosovo.

Check more guides to unrecognized countries .

In this Kosovo travel guide you find:

Table of Contents

• Current situation
• Historical context
•   Who recognizes Kosovo?
• Travel insurance
• Recommended books
• Best time to visit
• Top experiences
• Budget & money
• The culture
• Kosovo cuisine
• Where to stay
• Getting around
• More Information

Get travel insurance for traveling in Kosovo I recommend IATI Insurance , budget plans and good for multi-country backpacking. Get an exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link

🪪 How to get a visa for Kosovo

A visa is not needed for traveling to Kosovo.

Upon arrival, you’ll just get a friendly stamp which is valid for 3 months.

If you like collecting stamps, note that they don’t always stamp it, but you need to specifically ask for it.

📰 Need to know before traveling to Kosovo: the current situation

Note that this is a brief summary that only aims at giving you a minimum perspective.

Why does Kosovo want to become independent?

Kosovo is a country, or region, mainly composed of Serbs – who are Christian Orthodox – and Albanians – who are Muslims.

The first thing you need to know, however, is that the nation of Kosovo doesn’t exist.

Kosovar has been a nationality since 2008, but it’s not really a nation. It’s a region where Albanians and Serbs co-exist, both being Kosovars.

To make it extremely simple, the reason why the Kosovo became an independent state was because the Muslim Albanians didn’t want to be part of Serbia.

Why does Serbia claim Kosovo?

Until the 15th century and, for the last 250 years, Kosovo had been part of Serbia.

Not only that, but it was their spiritual homeland, home to the holiest churches and monasteries for the Serbian Orthodox.

In 1455, however, the Ottoman Empire took over today’s region of Kosovo, where they ruled for nearly 500 years.

The Ottoman Empire officially collapsed in 1912, when Serbia claimed both the moral and ethnic right to Kosovo.

After WWI, Kosovo was annexed to Serbia and Yugoslavia was founded.

The wake of Kosovar nationalism and independence

However, five centuries of Ottoman rule had shifted Kosovo’s demographics, the vast majority now being Muslim Albanians, so a period of Serbian colonization began under the recently formed Yugoslavia.

The following decades were characterized by several different episodes of repression against the Albanian population.

Albanian nationalism kept growing until the 1990s, when things escalated into an armed conflict that eventually turned into the Kosovo war of 1998-99 , a war that came with a death toll of 12,000 people. 

The war, however, didn’t solve Kosovo’s status and in fact, tensions and occasional clashes between Serbs and Albanians kept increasing. For example, the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) took advantage of the Serbian military withdrawal by burning Serbian churches and even arbitrarily killing Serbs.

Given all those tensions, the resolution of Kosovo couldn’t wait any longer and that’s why eventually, the UN came up with a plan and an agreement that would eventually allow Kosovo to become an independent state in 2008.

Who recognizes Kosovo?

Kosovo is one of the 9 unrecognized countries today found across the world, along with Western Sahara, South Ossetia, Abkhazia , Nagorno Karabakh, Transnistria , Northern Cyprus, Somaliland and Taiwan.

As of today, Kosovo is recognized by 97 out of 193 UN countries .

The USA, Australia, Canada, and most countries in the EU do recognize Kosovo, except for Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovakia.

Russia doesn’t recognize Kosovo either due to their strong ties with Serbia.

🚑 Travel insurance for Kosovo

Remember that for travel insurance that covers travel in Kosovo, you must select Serbia .

For this, I strongly recommend IATI Insurance :

• Multi-country coverage and up to 1-year trips
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📚 Recommended books for traveling in Kosovo

Kosovo travel guide by bradt.

Super complete and updated, this is the most comprehensive travel guide to Kosovo available for sale, packed with practical information, tips and itineraries.

Kosovo: What Everyone Needs to Know

An easy-to-read history book, in which Tim Judah tries to answer all the conflict-related questions any traveler visiting Kosovo should ask. However, the book is written from a pro-Albanian stand point, and it often omits the atrocities committed by Albanians in the 90s.

⛅ Best time to visit Kosovo

Like most countries in Europe, Kosovo is a year-round destination but obviously, some seasons are better than others.

Read: Useful tips and how to travel to Ukraine

Traveling to Kosovo during spring and autumn

The best time to travel to Kosovo is during these seasons, when the weather is pleasant, but the main attractions aren’t overrun by crowds of tourists.

Traveling to Kosovo in summer

While this might seem the ideal season to visit the country, the truth is that it’s the high season for the Kosovo diaspora – Kosovar nationals living abroad – who like to spend the holidays in their homeland.

Note that the Kosovo diaspora is nearly 50% of the total population.

Traveling to Kosovo in winter

Winters are cold in Kosovo, with many areas covered in snow but if you don’t mind the freezing weather, it could also be a great time to visit the country.

🛫 How to travel to Kosovo

Traveling to kosovo by air.

Pristina (PRN) has an international airport with connections to many European cities, especially those in countries with a large diaspora population, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Norway.

Common stopovers to Pristina are Vienna, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Munich, or Istanbul.

Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, EasyJet, Wizzair, Pegasus or Turkish Airlines, among many others, are the most common airlines.

Traveling to Kosovo by land border

Your trip to Kosovo might also include neighboring Balkan countries, so you will be likely to either enter or exit through one of its many borders.

We actually traveled to Kosovo via Albania and left via North Macedonia.

Currently, Kosovo shares a border with Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia.

All of them are easy, and pretty straightforward to cross, except for Serbia.

Traveling to Kosovo from Serbia

The border is open, anyone can cross, but be aware that tensions between both countries still exist.

Occasionally, if crossing by bus, you’ll be escorted by a car from the Serbian Army for the first few kilometers of no man’s land but, other than that, you should be fine.

Serbia doesn’t recognize the international borders of Kosovo so, in the eyes of Serbia, if you enter Kosovo from either Montenegro, Albania or North Macedonia, you’d be entering Serbia illegally.

If that was the case, your entry to Serbia will be denied.

However, if you travel to Kosovo from Serbia and then decide to come back, you’ll be allowed to enter.

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Kosovo?

Despite a relatively recent conflict, Kosovo is a safe country to travel.

There’s little petty crime compared to other European countries and, while tensions between Serbs and Albanians keep occurring – as happened in 2022 – it shouldn’t really affect your travels.

NATO Presence

Kosovo isn’t a member of NATO, but there’s a large NATO presence across Kosovo.

You are likely to see their tanks and armored vehicles, especially when you visit Serbian Heritage sites, like Dečani Monastery.

🛖 Top experiences in Kosovo

Anyone traveling to Kosovo shouldn’t miss:

Visiting the most low-key capital in Europe, Pristina

Years of war and conflict left an impoverished country with little money to invest in monuments and make things pretty.

Something that really surprised me about Pristina is that the buildings from the city’s downtown, like the ones located in the main square, could easily be the buildings from the suburbs of a secondary city near Madrid, very low key.

However, among all that decadence, there are little oases composed of chic cafés serving the best coffee I had outside of Italy.

Understanding the Serbian population by visiting a Serbian village

Anyone visiting Kosovo should add one or two Serbian-majority places in the itinerary, since Serbs have been living here for tens of generations, and they are also part of the unfortunate recent history.

Checking out some pretty gorgeous Ottoman architecture, like in Prizren and Djakova

The Turks ruled over Kosovo for 500 years, leaving behind a very tangible cultural heritage, including some epic architecture.

Exploring the rolling hills and villages of the barely visited region of Dragash

We really liked this area, and not only because it was pretty, but also because we had the best local experience in the entire Balkan Peninsula, people who would randomly invite us to their house to have tea, like in Pakistan.

Discovering a traditional Albanian city in Peja

Peja is a big city by Kosovar standards and we liked it because it was a really authentic Albanian city with little foreign influence, unlike Pristina, where one can already feel some cosmopolitanism.

💰 Budget and money

Surprisingly, the official currency in Kosovo is the euro (€).

They adopted it unilaterally without permission from the EU back in 2012.

Everything is quoted in €, you can’t use other currencies. Banks give € too.

In a majority-Serbian village, however, I saw that prices were quoted in Serbian Dinars, but € were accepted too.

ATMs and credit cards

In Pristina, you can pay by debit card in many restaurants and hotels but it’s always convenient to have some extra cash just in case.

Outside of the capital, you might be able to pay by card in certain fancier hotels but do bring cash for the rest.

How much does it cost to travel in Kosovo?

Kosovo is by far, the cheapest country in the world that uses the €.

Outside of the capital, sometimes we paid 40 cents for a magnificent espresso. In a fancy coffee house in the capital, you’ll pay up to 1€.

Eating out is surprisingly cheap too. In the most touristic street of Prizren, we paid 14€ (2 people) for a 2-meal course and 3 beers.

In local eateries, expect to pay no more than 3€ or 4€ for a meal.

Regarding accommodation, you can easily find a budget dorm for less than 10€, while a double room in a simple guest house will cost 20€ or 25€.

Buses are cheap too; the bus from Pristina to Prizren costs around 5€.

🕌 Kosovo: the country, culture, and people

As mentioned in the beginning, Kosovo is a region composed of Albanians and Serbians.

Serbs are Christian Orthodox and speak Serbian, while Albanians are Muslims and speak Albanian.

Both languages are official and road signs tend to be bilingual.

There are other minorities too. For example, in Restelica, we had the chance to meet Gorani people, a Muslim Slavic group. While this might not sound very exciting to you, you should know that being Slavic and Muslim at the same time isn’t very common.

As mentioned in the beginning, the Kosovar nation doesn’t really exist so instead, most Kosovar Albanians have a strong Albanian identity, visible in the large number of Albanian flags that abound across the country.

Do Serbians and Albanians still hate each other? From a military standpoint, the tension is pretty obvious but, what about the people?Is there ethnic segregation? Well, first of all, you need to know that today, only 10% of the Kosovar population are Serbs, and they tend to live in separate areas, like in Serbian villages. The only place where there’s actual tension is in the city of Mitrovica, a big city half Serbian, half Albanian. Due to the increasing tension, the city is being guarded by the carabinieri (the Italian police). Like in all worldwide ethnic conflicts, hate will always exist, it will never go away – think about Israel and Palestine – but today, most of the current hate is concentrated among extremists and people with a lower level of education. If you talk to any well-educated person in either Pristina or Prizren, you’ll realize that most people wish to put an end to such pointless disputes.

🍲 Cuisine in Kosovo

The food in Kosovo is similar to that in Albania but you don’t find as many Greek and Mediterranean flavors, so no olive oil, for example.

Instead, I found Kosovar food to have a higher Turkish influence, and more meat-based than neighboring Albanian.

The staple food in Kosovo are grilled kebabs, generally eaten in local eateries named qebaptore , and something you must try for a local experience.

Do go to a qebaptore for breakfast, and you are likely to find many locals.

Other typical Kosovar dishes include:

Suxhuk: a spicy sausage, usually eaten cold. It’s sold everywhere.

Tavë Kosi: baked lamb with yogurt. If you eat this in the right place, it’s incredibly delicious

Sarma: rolled cabbage leaves, typically eaten in all former Ottoman countries, but each country has its own local twist

Byrek: pastry layers filled with minced meat, spinach or cheese. This is also a staple, and sold in all bakeries, usually washed down with ayran (drinkable yogurt with salt)

Alcohol in Kosovo

Despite being a predominantly Muslim country, Kosovo is mostly secular, where you can buy beer anywhere, and it’s always cheap, never more than 2€ for a bottle.

In fact, something that really surprised me about Kosovo is the large quantity of beer ads popping up everywhere.

Peja is by far, the most available ordinary lager.

There’s a tiny craft beer scene as well, the most popular brewery being Pivdzan Craft Brewery .

Moreover, like in all the Balkans, rakija is popular too, a local liquor usually homemade containing typically between 40% and 50% of alcohol.

Coffee in Kosovo

Similar to neighboring Albania and, as part of the short Italian colonization, the coffee culture in Kosovo is a strong one. Kosovars make excellent coffee, and slurping an espresso, while talking to their friends, is their way to socialize.

Even in the smallest village, you are likely to find a café serving a really good espresso, or macchiato, and all for no more than 40 50 cents.

🏨 Accommodation: Where to stay in Kosovo

From budget hostels to guest houses and premium hotels, Kosovo is well sorted for accommodation, you won’t have any problem trying to find a hotel.

We spent at least one night in Pristina, Prizren, Djakova, Peja and Restileca.

We did have problems finding accommodation in Restileca (Dragash region) but that’s because there’s no tourist infrastructure, and in the end, someone rented us a room in his house, for like 20€.

Find the best accommodation in Pristina

Find the best accommodation in Prizren

Find the best accommodation in Djakova

Find the best accommodation in Peja

🛺 Transportation: How to get around Kosovo

We hired a car, so we didn’t take any public transportation, but we met several backpackers who were traveling by bus.

There are no trains, but all cities are well-connected by buses, and they are really cheap.

Expect to pay no more than 5€ for the bus journey between Pristina and Prizren.

❗ More Travel Guides to Other Unrecognized Countries

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

• Travel Guide to Abkhazia
• Transnistria Travel Guide
• Somaliland Travel Guide
• Somaliland Itinerary
• Fear and Loathing in Somaliland

I entered Kosova by bus from Albania and they didn’tstampmy passport. My whole purpose was to be in Kosova for only 3 months in order to be allowed to return to Albania . Now what can I do? I’m in pistren

no worries, you are in their system, the stamp is not proof of anything

Very useful article, Kosovo seems like a very interesting place despite it being a small country. What entices me most about this place is the nature and the coffee.

It is an intersting and informative article. You have some parts that are not correct though like “They adopted it unilaterally without permission from the EU back in 2012.” That is not true because a country cannot use another currency without permission. Also the number of serbs in Kosovo is barely 5% and in the article it says it is 10%. “However, the book is written from a pro-Albanian stand point, and it often omits the atrocities committed by Albanians in the 90s.” – This part is also nonsense because 90% of the victims were albanian and the book talks about all the atrocities that happened during the conflict.

Thank you for giving your opinions

So from what I read here you can either choose to enter Kosovo from either Serbia, or from one of the other borders. But you cant enter via the other country and then enter Serbia, due to the border recognition issues.

I have a potential itinerary where I would enter from Serbia and exit via Macedonia. Would that reverse be possible? I presume so, right? Because only entering Serbia from Kosovo is the issue? Just want to make sure though.

Hi Mohit, I think it should be all right!

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The Perfect South Balkans Travel Itinerary: Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo

• Last Updated On: September 10, 2023

After visiting the Balkans of former Yugoslavia including Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro , Bosnia and Herzagovina , and Slovenia , it was time for me to plan another road trip to the South Balkan. Of course I had spent a copious amount of time in Greece already (which is considered south Balkans), but this trip would be focused on the much less visited and totally underrated countries of Albania , Macedonia, and Kosovo.

Planning a trip to these off the beaten path countries can be daunting because there is less information on the subject. Let’s be honest, if you tell a Western European you are going to Tirana, they will most likely respond with “wait by why??”

Don’t worry, those people have no idea what they’re missing out on and if you want to see beautiful mountain landscapes, stunning beaches, mesmerizing lakes, and incredibly cheap prices to boot, look no further than these places.

This post will go into detail about my trip and will help you plan yours as well. You do  not have to  do my exact trip. You can break it down depending on how much time you have and which places you want to see!

Where I went in the South Balkans: Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo

I had just over two weeks to spend in the region and originally I was going to focus it primarily on Albania but I figured this might be too much time to spend on a country this small (turns out I was right). After researching the region, I figured I might as well visit the neighboring countries of Macedonia and Kosovo as well which turned out to be an amazing decision.

If you don’t have at least two weeks to dedicate to this trip, then what I did might feel too rushed. Instead, I would focus most of my time on Albania first, before doing offshoot trips to Kosovo or Macedonia. If time isn’t of issue, then just note that I spent most of my time in Albania because there is the most stuff to do there.

Here is a map of my itinerary:

For this itinerary to work in the allotted time, then you must rent a car. While public transportation is widely available and there are buses that connect Tirana to locations all over the region, it just is not as efficient as renting a car.

In addition, a lot of the charm in these countries is visiting smaller towns that are not well connected or a mountain viewpoint over the Adriatic or Lake Ohrid.

Renting a car is very cheap in the region. I started my trip in Tirana and a rental car could be had for as cheap as €10. I ended up paying about €18 a day for full insurance coverage and from a more reputable company.

The roads in the these countries are plenty good when you’re on the main freeways.

Starting point

With this trip, you can see from the itinerary map that it is just a circular loops that travels through Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo. You can essentially start in any of the three capitals (Tirana, Skopje, and Pristina) and make it work.

This way you won’t need to mess with one way drop offs with your rental car and will not need to book multi-city flight itineraries. For this trip, I started in Tirana.

From Tirana, I spent two nights exploring the capital before driving south to the old city of Berat. From Berat, I drove south further to explore the coast. Then another night in Gjirokaster before driving to Macedonia. In Macedonia, I only spent time exploring Lake Ohrid and Skopje (which is mostly what people do).

Start in Tirana

Tirana is hands-down one of my favorite cities in the Balkans, full of incredible restaurants, cafés serving up perfect coffee for less than $1, funky museums, interesting open-air markets, and vibrant street art.

Spend your first day in Tirana getting acquainted with the area around Skanderbeg Square, visiting Bunkart 2 and/or the House of Leaves, checking out the socialist mural on the National History Museum, visiting the newly renovated Pazar I Ri market area, and walking around the hipster neighborhood of Blloku which used to be the center of Communist rule during Enver Hoxha’s murderous reign.

This is a great area to go out at night: I strongly recommend Colonial Cocktail Academy for inventive mixology, Radio Bar for chilled-out drinks in a funky vintage-inspired settling, Nouveau Vague for one of the most photogenic terraces in Tirana, and Kino for a lovely summer garden and fabulous mixed drinks.

Berat, Albania

From Tirana, the first stop on this epic road trip is to the old town of Berat. Whereas Tirana didn’t have really any “old towns” to speak of due to Communism, Berat is exactly what you’re thinking of when it comes to old European villages.

Having spent a lot of time in Albania, I think Berat is probably the most impressive traditional town in the country. Known as the city of 1000 windows, this old town was heavily influenced by the Ottoman empire and you can see the same architectural prowess as you do in certain parts of Turkey.

Picturesque stone houses with dark mahogany stucco roofs are built along the hillside. Don’t forget the fortress at the top of said hill just to add perspective. The town is incredibly photogenic and you will get some of your best pictures of the country here.

For the best views, visit the new bridge and take the photo head on. In addition, the views from the main town square that is adorned with numerous cafes is amazing.

Last but not least, if you just have one night here like I did, make sure to absolutely go eat dinner at Homemade food Lili located right in the old town. The owner is incredibly energetic and I’ve never seen a happier soul. Coupled with some of the best Albanian food you’ll find and this is a must visit.

Where I stayed in Berat

There are countless places to stay in Berat and all for very affordable prices. I stayed at Guesthouse Arben Elezi which had comfortable rooms and modern finishings. However, the best part of this guesthouse was its rooftop terrace with dead on views of Berat’s old town. Having breakfast here with these views was an absolute treat.

Himare and the Albanian Riviera

After one night in Berat, I drove south towards the Albanian coast to enjoy beaches and sea. The Adriatic coastline of Albania is totally underrated in my opinion. It combines dramatic mountain peaks with that beautiful Ionian sea that you can’t get enough of. Driving down the coast reminded me of Crete in some parts, mixed in with Kefalonia , Greece at others. It is spectacular and not to be missed!

There is a steep ascent up the mountains but as it dips down to sea level, the views of the mountains towering over the sea is breathtaking.

There are many towns and destinations to visit on the coast. The main towns of interest are:

• Butrint National Park

There are many smaller villages that are also beautiful but these are the main ones. It is not so big of an area to cover so I would recommend to just choose a town and base yourself there for a few nights.

After reading a lot of blogs, I settled on Himare which is mostly in the middle of the southern coast and is known to be a bit more laid back but with beautiful views. Dhermi is next door but seemed to be a place that specialized in high end accommodations which wasn’t what I was after. Sarande in the very south is a bigger beach town that had a very Southern California OC vibe (as well as Vlore). In the end, I was very happy with my decision of staying in Himare.

Drop in at the Appollonia Ruins

On the way from Berat to Himare, you’ll pass through the old Greek ruins at Appollonia. Here you’ll find a small acropolis type of building with breathtaking views of the nearby valleys. There is a small entrance fee here but it is a nice little stop along the way to the coast.

Visit Gjipe Beach

All the Albanians I met told me a visit to Gjipe Beach was a must. It’s one of the nicest beaches in the coast and I would have to agree. Located between Dhermi and Himare, this beach is a bit of a mission to get to. It involves driving down a small road (it is paved at least), parking your car, and walking 20 minutes down rocky roads to the beach.

It is not difficult by any means but just keep in mind you will want to pack lots of water for this trip. In the end, the beach is absolutely beautiful and has all the qualities of an Ionian sea beach you can expect.

Having visited in late April, I was able to enjoy beautiful weather (25C+) and zero crowds. However, in the summer months, expect this beach (and every other one) to get super packed.

Visit Butrint National Park

Butrint National Park is located south of Sarande and is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to perhaps the least crowded Greek and Roman ruins you’ll find.

The Amphitheatre here was completely empty and I was able to just chill here by myself for quite some time. There is also a very nicely preserved fortress with views of the surrounding bay.

After getting your history in, make sure to have lunch in Ksamil. Guvat Bar and Restaurant is located right on the beach with stunning views of the turquoise water below. As this region is so close to Greece, expect delicious Greek food which is my favorite European cuisine.

Staying at Beleri House

Beleri House in Himare was an amazing option to stay! It was right in front of the beach and had great ocean views. The town of Himare is much more chilled and a great place to base yourself to explore the nearby areas.

Gjirokaster

After a very relaxing few days in Himare soaking up the sun and sea, it was time to continue onwards to Gjirokaster, which is another beautiful medieval mountain town in the heartland of Albania. The drive from Himare to Gjirokaster is quite scenic and just over two hours.

Blue Eye of Sarande

Along the way, stop at the Blue Eye of Sarande which is a natural pool with ultra clear water coming from depths of 50 meters below. It’s possible to swim in these waters and it is a popular tourist attraction.

Gjiroskaster Town

Upon arrive in Gjirokaster, you will be undoubtedly taken aback by the natural beauty of the town. Like Berat, there is an old town and a new town but of course, you’ll want to stay the night in the old part of the village on the hills.

Gjirokaster is known as the stone city and is another beautiful display of Ottoman city planning. It is similar but also not that similar to Berat, even though both towns share the same history. Both towns are incredibly beautiful and I’d say Gjirokaster is as beautiful as Berat. Both towns are absolutely worth visiting.

Gjirokaster feels a bit more touristy than Berat as its main streets are filled with shops that sell souvenirs and restaurants. However, visiting in late April during COVID meant neither town felt touristy whatsoever.

Where I stayed – Stone Rooms

I found a hotel called the Stone Rooms at the top of Gjirokaster with complete panoramic views of the city for 20 euros a night. It was a bit of a mission to get here but the views were totally worth it.

After a night in Gjirokaster, it is time to make the drive into North Macedonia. This is a long drive day (almost six hours) as you will mostly drive through small mountainous roads. This drive is annoying and full of questionable roads but the scenery is well worth it. The mountain area around the Greece border is especially stunning.

Along the way, you can break up the drive by stopping in Korce for lunch before crossing the border into North Macedonia. Before crossing the border, you’ll need to buy a Macedonian Green pass for your car which is essentially insurance. The cost of this is 40 euros.

After crossing the border, Lake Ohrid is another 45 minutes drive. At this point, you will already be on the lake and it is absolutely beautiful. It is one of the largest lakes in the Balkans and its mountains background reminds me of visiting Lake Como in Italy or Kotor in Montenegro.

What to do in Lake Ohrid

Lake Ohrid is similar to Lake Como in that there are multiple towns surrounding the lake. However, I found that only one was historic and picturesque and that was of the town of Ohrid. People don’t talk much about the other towns so I think it’s safe to base yourself entirely in Ohrid.

Staying in the old town of Ohrid is the way to go as you will be close to all the sights. The main things to see here are the fortress at the top of the town and numerous Orthodox churches. The fortress is a short walk and can be done in a few minutes.

Of the churches, the most famous and most picturesque is without a doubt St John’s Church right on the tip of the peninsula. From here, you have panoramic views of Lake Ohrid and this beautiful Orthodox church perched by itself overlooking the lake.

Aside from this, you can take a catamaran around the lake as a tour. Simply walk along the main waterfront and there are plenty of people selling tours from their boats.

Simply, there is just time here to relax and soak up the beautiful lake views. I definitely could have stayed in Ohrid for a few more days.

Stay at Villa Ohrid

There are so many amazing guesthouses in Lake Ohrid so your options are endless. I wanted a view of the town and of the lake so I ended up choosing to stay at Villa Ohrid . It did not disappoint because I had a balcony that was front and center viewing the lake. Waking up to this view every morning was divine.

After a wonderful few days in Lake Ohrid, it was time to continue the journey onward to the capital of North Macedonia.

The drive is quite scenic with the mountain views and terrace farms. There isn’t a whole lot to see besides the Ottoman era mosque in Tetove which has some of the most stunning murals I’ve seen on a Mosque.

This area in the west of Macedonia is mostly Albanian which I learned shortly after that much of the population in North Macedonia is Albanian, similar to how much of Southern Albania’s population consider themselves Greek.

Skopje is a beautiful town and was definitely the most beautiful capital of the three countries in my opinion (Tirana, Skopje, and Pristina). The town has a fantastic vibe and energy which I enjoyed.

Walking tour of Skopje

The free walking tour of Skopje is a great way to see all the sights of the city. There is one company that does these and they meet in the main Square next to the Alexander the Great statue. My guide was great as he explained so much about the city I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

For starters, Macedonia is a former Yugoslavian country and therefore have a Slavic language. However, I never knew that Greece  also has a Macedonia part which is the region in the very north with Thessaloniki as its capital. In Ancient times, “Macedonia” encompassed what is now modern day North Macedonia and “South Macedonia” which is in Greece. However, Slavs moved in during the 5th century AD and staked out their land.

Up until 2018, the country of “Macedonia” was what is now North Macedonia. However, as North Macedonia wants to join the EU, they needed to change their name because their neighbors Greece was not happy with their claim to all of the “Macedonia” name. North Macedonia was therefore created and adopted only a few years ago. Most people were not happy about the name change and I can’t blame them!

Nevertheless, the walking tour is great as it explores the new part of the town with more European and Communist style buildings as well as the old part of town just over the old Bridge. This area was thriving in Ottoman times and nowadays is home to a Bazaar style neighborhood with shops and restaurants closely packed. It is in fact, the second largest Bazaar style neighborhood after Istanbul !

Explore the Bohemian Neighborhood

I stayed in the Bohemian neighborhood that is just 15 minutes away from the city center. I was recommended this area as it was where all the cool bars and restaurants are. If you want a more neighborhood vibe, then this is definitely where you’ll want to stay.

Make sure to visit the cocktail bars of Casa and the restaurants on the main strip.

After Skopje, it is a quick 1.5 hours north to the capital of Kosovo. The drive is largely uneventful and the border was quite easy. The first thing I noticed upon entering Kosovo was how amazing the roads were. It was a proper freeway that you’d find in the best roads of Germany or the United States. By far the best roads of the trip so far.

Pristina was also much different than my expectations. Having gone through a heinous war only 25 years ago, I just figured the city would still be recovering from the effects of that. As Kosovo consists largely of Albanian people, I figured the city would be more grungy like Tirana.

However, I was mistaken. The city feels much more built up and modern than I figured. It was surprisingly clean and more orderly than other Balkan capitals, especially when compared to Tirana.

I only stayed here for a day so I didn’t get to explore it in detail but it also felt like there was slightly less character than the hip neighborhood of Blloku in Tirana for example or the remnants of its old town in comparison to Skopje.

I also took the free walking tour in Pristina which I can recommend. There really aren’t a whole lot of “must see” sights in Pristina as much of it was destroyed and most of the city is quite new.

However, what interested me in Pristina was not its medieval history but rather its modern history. I learned quite a great deal talking to my guide about the Kosovo war. Since it was so recent, anyone over the age of 30 remembers in great detail exactly what went down in the late 90s.  He recounted how life was in those dark times which really put it in perspective, similar to my tour guide in Kiev talking about the revolution in 2014.

Kosovars love to party hard and you’ll find no shortage of nightlife in Pristina. People are out and about in full force all throughout the night in the main square as well as the Fehmi Agani street. As well, the food in Kosovo was the best I had on the trip. If you are looking for delicious grilled meats and crispy burek, you’ll get the best of both in Kosovo!

Peje and Prizren

The next stay starts early in the morning with a departure of Pristina to the Rugova Valley in the west of the country. I was recommended this valley by various blogs I met. It’s about 1.5 hours to the Rugova Valley mountains just west of the town of Peje.

The mountains here are beautiful. There is ample hiking to be done here as well as zip-lining. However, in this itinerary will be a visit to the Valbona and Theth mountain ranges in Albania. If you’re visiting Kosovo only, then definitely make it out to this part of the country. However, if you are going to Valbona, I would give Peje and Ragova a skip even if it is just for a half day. Instead, focus your energy on Prizren.

Prizren Town

Prizren is the old and traditional town of Kosovo. It was the capital during olden times before moving to Pristina. It’s a rather large town but with a small and historic old town where you will likely spend most of your time in.

The old town is picturesque and features a big mosque and an old Ottoman bridge that really reminds me of the Stari Most in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a great place to take photos especially around sunset.

As for the old town, there really isn’t much to explore. It is quite tiny and you can walk from one end to the other in five minutes.

The streets are lined with bars, restaurants, and shisha lounges. At night, it turns into a huge party as it seems like the whole town descends into it. Mixed with tourists, and you are assured a big night out every night.

Hike to the fortress of Prizren

Sitting atop the hill overlooking Prizren town is the old fortress. It’s a quick 15 minute hike from the old town and is worth it for the panoramic views over the town. The fortress itself is very impressive. Built during Byzantine times, it was further developed during the Serbian and Ottoman empires. There is no entrance fee.

Along the way, you’ll pass through an old Serbian Orthodox church perched up on the hilltop overlooking the town. It’s an unfinished church which I’m sure was started sometime during the Yugoslavian times. I’m sure there is no shortage of debates about what to do with it among the Kosovars.

What to eat in Prizren

There are tons of restaurants in Prizren including countless Qebaptores (grill houses), Furra (bakeries), and bars. The best restaurant in town is without a doubt the restaurant at the Tiffany hotel. This restaurant serves very traditional oven baked Albanian dishes that I did not find anywhere else during my trip. Make sure to try the Elbasan lamb!

Prices in Kosovo are amount the cheapest I’ve ever seen in Europe. So cheap that I didn’t even bother with credit cards because it felt silly to pay a few euros with a credit card. An espresso at the trendy Gatsby bar next to the Bridge is €0.50 euros and a lunch of Qebapa is €2-3 euros.

Valbona and Theth

After Prizren, Kosovo is pretty much done and it is time to go back to Albania. This next part is confusing and can easily take up an entire post to explain. I will try to summarize it as easily as possible.

One of the most stunning and must do things in Albania in my opinion is to visit the Accursed mountains which is Albania’s answer to the Italian Dolomites .

Valbona to Theth Hike

It is absolutely stunning in its beauty and the dramatic rocky peaks will convert any lowland lower. One of the most popular things to do in Albania is to make the Valbona to Theth hike. Valbona and Theth are two national parks located next to each other in Albania’s north. Valbona to the East and Theth to the west. They are  only connected by foot meaning there are no roads connecting these two national parks. Therefore, many travelers make the trek by foot and it’s one of the most epic hikes you can do.

However, this is only possible in the summer months as snow often blocks the way. This 6-7 hour hike can only be done between the months of May-September. I visited in early May and sadly, the pass was closed. Therefore, I went straight to Valbona from Kosovo instead of doing the typical “route” for this trip.

If you are visiting and the pass is indeed open (just message one of the guesthouses in Valbona to know about the conditions), then this is the itinerary you will follow:

• Start in Shkoder (overnight)
• In the morning, your guesthouse or hotel will arrange a transport to the Koman Lake Ferry, which is in itself extremely epic (more details on this shortly)
• Take the two hour ferry ride from Koman to Fierza
• From Fierza, take another transport to your guesthouse in Valbona where you will spend the night
• The next day, make the 6-8 hour hike from Valbona to Theth, spend the night at your guesthouse in Theth
• The following day, take a transport to Shkoder

For the above itinerary, you can leave your rental car in Shkoder for the 3 days no problem. You can’t take the car with you on this trip because there is no way to get back to Valbona after you finish your hike unless you want to walk back! Therefore, it’s much easier to just do this trip without your rental car.

Valbona National Park

Since I couldn’t do the above hike, I decided to just spend some time in Valbona without going to Theth. While the pass was closed, there are still hikes to be done without much issue. The  Maja e  Rosni  hike is the one that many people do. It’s 2600m to the top and takes about 7 hours round trip. However, it’s only about 1600m to get to the first viewpoint which affords you panoramic views of the valley.

This is what I ended up doing and it was incredibly beautiful. The views stretch for many kilometers down the valley as you get the same jagged peaks that I saw in the Dolomites. It’s truly breathtaking here.

Staying at Margjeka Hotel

The most popular guesthouse that I read about was Margjeka. It’s located at the very end of the road in Valbona and it is located on a hill which gives it views of every mountain surrounding it. The rooms are comfortable and the food was delicious. Most importantly, waking up to these views was something special.

I would highly recommend staying here!

Koman Lake Ferry

Last but not least, the Koman lake ferry was the cherry on top of the cake of an amazing South Balkans itinerary. It might not sound fancy (and the ferry boat certainly isn’t) but this ferry ride between Koman and Fierza is one of the most spectacular things I did.

Seriously, you cannot leave Albania without at least going on this ferry ride.

Picture towering Norwegian style Fjords on all sides of you as you sail across a turquoise river. It’s something special and no pictures do it justice!

From Valbona, it’s a 1.5 hour drive to the port town of Fierza. There is nothing here really except some restaurants and this ferry. The ferry runs once a day between Koman and Fierza (round trip). The cost is only €6 per person and about €40 for a car.

The ferry ride is only two hours but you’ll wish it lasts longer. After arriving in Koman, it’s an easy drive back to Shkoder or if you need to go home via Tirana.

From here, I thought about driving to Theth (since I couldn’t hike there) to see the contrast with Valbona. However, in the end, I didn’t want to deal with it as the roads to Theth are very rough for the last 15 km. It’s not feasible without a 4×4 and I didn’t want to risk it. In the end, I decided to go to Montenegro next door to get back to the sea!

I wrote about the Lake Koman ferry ride in detail so make sure to read that if you are considering this trip!

Day by day breakdown of Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo

Here is a day by day breakdown of my itinerary:

Day 1: Tirana Day 2: Tirana Day 3: Berat Day 4: Berat to Himare Day 5: Himare (explore Butrint National Park) Day 6: Himare (Relax at beaches) Day 7: Gjirokaster Day 8: Lake Ohrid (long day of driving) Day 9: Lake Ohrid Day 10: Skopje Day 11: Skopje Day 12: Pristina Day 13: Pristina Day 14: Prizren Day 15: Prizren Day 16: Valbona Day 17:  Back to Tirana (with the Lake Koman Ferry)

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Great Post Johnny! I am travelling to albania, macedonia, Bosnia and Montenegro. I would like to ask you if could recomend a car agency for the rental or where did you do yours? Thank you for sharing the information with us 🙂

Hi there, I rented my car with my Airbnb host and his company is called Easy Drive Albania. Highly recommend them!

I love this post! I am planning a trip for Aug/Sept and trying to figure out my plan. I have read various things about driving into N Macedonia.. but it wasn’t an issue for you from Albania? Just the pass you mention above? Also – I am probably a solo female traveler.. do you think this would be safe for me? Last Question – did you have a phone you were able to use?

Hi Vanessa! Yes it is definitely not a problem to drive from Albania to n. Macedonia. Just make sure to ask the car rental before hand and confirm it. As for safety, yes it is very safe all over the balkans. I got Sim cards in Albania for 4g and then used 2g roaming on my t-mobile (from usa) for the other countries. Hope that helps!

Middle East: Is it safe to travel to holiday destinations as tension escalates?

Are you going to Turkey, Egypt or Israel on holiday? The Foreign Office has warned travellers to several countries to monitor advice after an Iranian attack on Israel pushed tension in the Middle East up another notch.

Thursday 18 April 2024 08:13, UK

Tension in the Middle East has ratcheted up again after Iran's attack on Israel, as the world waits to see how Benjamin Netanyahu's government will respond. 

With the threat of widening conflict, people due to travel through or over the Middle East may be asking if their plans may be impacted.

On Saturday, flight data showed dozens of journeys that would have travelled over the Middle East turned back after Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles into Israel .

Here is what airlines are saying and the latest safety advice to travellers.

EasyJet scraps Tel Aviv flights

EasyJet has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv over safety concerns.

The budget airline told Sky News it has grounded its flights until 27 October at the earliest "as a result of the continued evolving situation" in the region.

Wizz Air customers could see schedule changes

Wizz Air cancelled flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday 14 and Monday 15 April before resuming its schedule.

But it said customers could experience schedule changes as it closely monitors the situation.

British Airways operating as normal

British Airways - which operates four daily return flights per week between Heathrow and Tel Aviv - said its flights were continuing to operate as planned, but it too was monitoring the situation.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

Turkey is a popular holiday destination for people from the UK with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism saying that last year 3.16 million Britons made the journey there, according to Travel Weekly.

Yet, it borders a number of countries that the Foreign Office advises against travel to.

The vast majority of the country is considered generally safe for tourists, with some exceptions.

The Foreign Office advises against all travel within 10km of the border with Syria , and all but essential travel to the Sirnak and Hakkari provinces.

Is it safe to travel to Israel?

Some parts of Israel are considered "red zones" by the Foreign Office, with the government advising against all travel there.

For the rest of the country - including East Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - the advice is to travel only if it is essential.

Tourist Israel says around 220,000 Britons usually go to the country every year and the Foreign Office is advising against travel close to the border with Gaza, within 5km of the border with Lebanon and within 500m of the border with Syria.

You can see the full updated list of "red zones" on the Foreign Office advice pages.

Occupied Palestinian territories

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Gaza and the West Bank.

Don't travel to Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon or Syria - Foreign Office

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

It advises against all travel to Iraq except to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), where it advises against all but "essential travel".

Can I safely go on holiday in Egypt?

The main tourist areas in Egypt are generally considered safe, including the capital Cairo, cities along the Nile and Red Sea resorts.

Over 1.5 million British Nationals visit Egypt every year, according to analysts Gitnux, and the areas the Foreign Office warns not to travel to include the Governorate of North Sinai, where the Rafah crossing to Gaza is located, and within 20km of the border with Libya.

Read more: Are we heading for World War Three? Experts give their verdicts What are Iran's military capabilities - and where could it strike?

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Check advice on other Middle East states before you travel

Following Iran's attack on Israel, the Foreign Office issued a warning relating to several countries in the surrounding area, telling travellers to check for the latest information.

Included in this are popular destinations like Dubai (visited by more than a million Britons last year according to Travel Weekly) and Marrakech.

"On 13 April 2024 Iran carried out military action against Israel. Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast," the FCDO said in a statement.

The countries covered by the warning include Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Jordan and Oman.

Anywhere else of concern?

Cyprus is near the region and has a large UK airbase but, as yet, there is no change in travel advice to the popular country.

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Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant to travel to Kosovo

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that the Honourable Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Pristina, Kosovo, from April 14 to 17, 2024.

April 12, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

During his trip, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will attend the second International Forum for Women, Peace and Security (WPS Forum), where he will participate in various activities and panel discussions aimed at developing new strategies and frameworks for action in the wake of an ever-changing security environment in the Western Balkans, Europe and beyond. He will deliver an address at the WPS Forum, in a ministerial discussion titled "Voices matter: A global call to end conflict related sexual violence". Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will also engage with leadership from both Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Mission on Canada’s role in supporting efforts for peace and stability in the region.

While in Kosovo, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will also meet with regional leaders, senior government officials and key partners. During these meetings, he will discuss how Canada can support the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue towards a comprehensive agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, and identify further opportunities for Canada and Kosovo to continue promoting peace, political stability, and economic progress in the Western Balkans. He is also scheduled to visit Canada Fund for Local Initiatives projects supporting the empowerment of women and youth in Kosovo.

“I am thrilled to participate in the WPS Forum and work with Canada’s international partners to create tools and policies to address rising global challenges. As we mark 25 years since the arrival of thousands of Kosovar refugees in Canada, I’m also looking forward to engaging with representatives of the Kosovar government to explore opportunities that will allow the relationship and cooperation between our two countries to continue growing.” - Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, and was recognized by Canada on March 18, 2008. Both countries established full diplomatic relations on April 7, 2009.

Canada continues to provide small grants through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, to assist local partners in Kosovo with projects aimed at improving respect for the rule of law and human rights, increasing citizen engagement and combatting corruption.

On March 28, Canada released “Foundations for Peace’’, its third national action plan on the Women, Peace and Security agenda aimed at addressing the most pressing peace and security challenges of the day. This action plan also prepares the Government of Canada to respond effectively to the inevitable challenges and crises that will materialize in the coming years.

In the spring of 1999, Canada sponsored over 5,000 Kosovar refugees through “Operation Parasol’’ as part of an international emergency evacuation organized by the United Nations for hundreds of thousands of civilians who fled or were forced into neighbouring countries like Albania and Macedonia from war in Kosovo. Refugees airlifted to Canada were sheltered at military bases in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario.

Associated links

• Canada-Kosovo relations
• Foundations for Peace: Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security – 2023 to 2029

Media Relations Office Global Affairs Canada [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaFP Like us on Facebook: Canada’s foreign policy - Global Affairs Canada

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